Overview
The best antibiotic for Pneumonia or the best antibiotic for chest infection is merely not just a choice. Antibiotics for Pneumonia are prescribed with several factors in mind, including the type, age of the individual, and medical history. Azithromycin is commonly prescribed as the first-line treatment since it can fight off many microbes that lead to Pneumonia. This article provides a clear insight into, ‘What is the best antibiotic to treat pneumonia?’
What is the best antibiotic to treat Pneumonia?
Medication for Pneumonia is generally prescribed based on the cause, severity of the infection and age group. Antibiotics for Pneumonia treat infections caused by bacteria, but they do not treat viral or fungal Pneumonia. Antibiotic pneumonia treatment is based on the effectiveness of the medicine and which antibiotic for lung infection has the least side effects for you based on your individual medical profile.
Pneumonia Antibiotics for Adults
The choice of medicine for Pneumonia in adults is dependent on several factors, some of which include:
- Age: People who are 65 and above have a greater risk of severe complications from pneumonia infections.
- Type of infection: If the type of infection is bacterial, viral or fungal.
- Health/medical history: A history of smoking, lung diseases, or other conditions may influence a person’s ability to fight infections.
- Drug history/Allergy history
The best antibiotic for Pneumonia in elderly is usually different as they may have weakened immune systems and chronic health conditions.
The list of antibiotics for chest infection in healthy adults under 65 years with Pneumonia is the following:
- A combination of Amoxicillin and Zithromax (Azithromycin)
OR
- A combination of Amoxicillin plus Vibramycin (Doxycycline)
Generally, antibiotics for Pneumonia in adults who have chronic conditions such as heart, liver, lungs or kidney diseases including COPD, diabetes or those without a spleen consist of the following:
- Augmentin (amoxicillin/clavulanic acid)
OR
- Augmentin plus Vibramycin
The best antibiotic for Pneumonia in adults who can’t take penicillin usually includes:
- Third, fourth, or fifth-generation cephalosporin like ceftriaxone
OR
- Cayston or Azactam (Aztreonam)
The best antibiotic for Pneumonia in adults who can’t take Augmentin may include the following:
- Levofloxacin; Avalox, Vigamox, or Factive (Gemifloxacin)
- Xenleta (Lefamulin)
- Nuzyra (Omadacycline)
Pneumonia Antibiotics for Children
‘What is the strongest antibiotic for Pneumonia’ or ‘the best antibiotics for pneumonia’ largely depends on the age group that the doctors are treating as well.
Antibiotics used to treat children with Pneumonia:
- Newborns= Generally treated with Ampicillin or a third-generation cephalosporin.
- Infants 1 to 3 months old= Erythromycin or Clarithromycin for atypical Pneumonia.
- Infants and children older than 3 months= Amoxicillin or another beta-lactam antibiotic.
- Children > 5 years= Macrolide antibiotics as first-line therapy.
- Children with other illnesses= Cefotaxime, macrolide, Vancomycin, Piperacillin, or Ceftazidime plus Tobramycin.
- Clindamycin or Vancomycin may be used in case of MRSA.
- Children < 90 days old= who are immunocompromised children or those with underlying chronic conditions, like sickle cell anemia, may require hospitalization.
What is the strongest antibiotic for Pneumonia?
A prescription for Pneumonia or the choice of the best antibiotic for lung infection is dependent on how effective the bacterial pneumonia antibiotics would be for your particular condition in eliminating the infection and keeping other factors such as medical history and side effects profile in mind.
Typically, the first-line treatment for bacterial Pneumonia is Azithromycin or Erythromycin as these drugs are known to be effective against a wide range of different microbes that result in Pneumonia.
Other antibiotics used to treat Pneumonia include:
- Amoxicillin
- Clarithromycin
- Aztreonam
- Doxycycline
- Ceftriaxone
- Gemifloxacin
- Levofloxacin
- Moxifloxacin
- Omadacycline
- Gemifloxacin
How to take antibiotics for Pneumonia?
The treatment for uncomplicated Pneumonia usually lasts five to seven days. Uncomplicated Pneumonia can be treated with oral antibiotics but complicated infections may require hospitalization. Furthermore, in some cases, one course of antibiotics is sufficient to eliminate the infection, while in other cases, you may require an extended course to cure your Pneumonia.
In most cases, symptoms improve one to three days after starting pneumonia treatment. However, complete recovery can take a week or more.
When to consult a doctor?
By reading this article, you may have realized that choosing the best antibiotic for Pneumonia is no simple feat. That is why it is essential to consult with a physician. To determine the best treatment option for you, talk with one of our doctors at Your Doctors Online and let us take care of the rest.
FAQs about the best antibiotic for pneumonia
The treatment for Pneumonia depends on several factors, such as the type and severity of the infection and the age of the individual being treated. Azithromycin is commonly prescribed as the first-line treatment since it has the ability to fight off many types of microbes that lead to Pneumonia.
Taking the medication exactly as prescribed, consuming a healthy diet, keeping yourself hydrated and getting sufficient rest can help you recover from Pneumonia quickly.
The best treatment for Pneumonia depends on how effective antibiotics are for your particular condition in eliminating the infection, as well as other factors such as medical history and side effects profile.
